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Christopher Yoo, an academic and author who has raised questions about network neutrality, has asked to be taken off a list of possible candidates to replace Robert McDowell on the Federal Communications Commission. Others thought to be under consideration for the Republican seat are Michael O'Reilly, a top staff member for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Ray Baum, a close adviser to House communications subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore.

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House Republicans in November will add 11 seats and boost their majority to its highest level in nearly 70 years, said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. "This is shaping up far more to be a referendum election and not a good one for Democrats," Walden said.

The Communications Act, which originated during the Great Depression and was last changed in 1996, "is now painfully out of date" and needs to be rewritten, according to House communications subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and former Federal Communications Commission member Robert McDowell also called for the law to be updated during a Google chat. The lawmakers, without specifying changes, said they would push to amend the law by 2015.

President Barack Obama has nominated Michael O'Rielly, an aide to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to fill the Republican slot on the Federal Communications Commission formerly held by Robert McDowell, a move that was met with praise from GOP senators. Senate Republicans were reportedly reluctant to move on Tom Wheeler's nomination as chairman until Obama a chose a nominee for the McDowell seat.

The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to express its support for keeping the Internet in the hands of industry stakeholders, rather than international agencies or governments. "Government's hands-off approach has enabled the Internet's rapid growth and made it a powerful engine of social and economic freedom," said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore.

A measure introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would require health insurers to inform policyholders of the taxes the companies pay under the Affordable Care Act. The bill is similar to one Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., introduced in March in the House.